BERNVILLE—For those who are willing to venture a bit off the beaten path to the rural Berks County town of Bernville, a winter wonderland awaits.

Located near Reading, Koziar’s Christmas Village illuminates the night sky with a million lights that twinkle brightly, reflecting off a lake and infusing the holiday spirit into even the stingiest of Scrooges.

Bundled up little children making the pilgrimage with their parents can hardly contain their excitement as they reach the top of the hill and set eyes on the tableau below. Due to Koziar’s ever-growing popularity, however, little ones are often challenged to exercise patience as the line of cars snakes slowly into the parking lot, guided by attendants.

A close-up of one of the train exhibits at Koziar’s Christmas Village.(Photo11: Photo courtesy Koziar's Christmas Village)

Sonia Koziar, who runs the business with her son and sister, tells the story of a mother who taped her child’s reaction when he finally caught a glimpse of the property. “'It’s the North Pole,' he squealed. Oh, he was so exuberant,” said Koziar.

What Koziar describes as a “labor of love” dates back to 1948 when her father, William Koziar, started decorating their property, then known as Spring Lake Dairy Farm, for the family of six.

“People soon began referring to our property as ‘The Christmas House,’ and before long people were parking on the hill and walking across the fields for a closer look,” said Koziar. Each year the project grew bigger, until the family had to carefully plan their chores around it. “We had to milk the cows before turning on the lights because we didn’t have enough electrical power to do both.”

At the end of every season, the family would gather around the kitchen table to decide what new attractions would be added the following year. “The four of us donated our childhood toys for various scenes and most are still there today,” said Sonia.

Something for everyone

Visitors can easily make their away around the village via painted arrows to view both indoor and outdoor displays. Small buildings dot the landscape, just the perfect height for children to peer inside to take in various Christmas scenes. Along the way, larger buildings allow visitors to duck in from the cold to visit Santa, enjoy a bite to eat for a reasonable price, or take in displays with various themes ranging from Americana to fairy tales, children’s books and Bible stories.

It takes more than a million lights to illuminate Koziar’s Christmas Village.(Photo11: Photo courtesy Discover Lehigh Valley)

Pottstown resident Frank Buttaro recently took his wife, their two adult sons, their wives and his grandchildren to the popular holiday attraction. “As we approached the top of the hill, everyone’s eyes lit up. It was their first visit and they were just in awe. When we reached the gate, characters greeted us and the grandkids ran up, gave them a high-five and posed for a picture,” he said.

Sonia said the family friendly destination appeals to all ages, many who return year after year. “We have one gentleman who has been coming here every year for 57 years now. He brings his grandson and his mother.”

A million lights

Kim Lily from Allentown said, "Koziar’s is a Christmas light spectacle that you must experience in person. There are literally more than a million lights adorning barns, buildings, and the landscape surrounding the property. There’s music playing, food to nibble on, and knick-knacks to purchase as you walk along the pathways of this special village. There are plenty of photo opportunities as well, including a stop with Santa Claus himself. It doesn’t matter which direction you turn, there is some holiday-themed exhibit for you to take in.”

Koziar said there’s always something new to see at their holiday haven, which has been named one of the top 100 travel events in North America by the Pennsylvania Bus Association. “This year we added a light show in the middle of the lake on a tree, which we installed on a platform. It changes colors and you’ll see images on the tree. I had them row out in rowboats to install it,” she said with a laugh. “You’ll also see Santa on a jet ski, waving to the crowd. He is pulled by a boat, driven by a reindeer. This year we also completed the Reading Railroad building. They had a replica of the railroad and gave it to my father when they closed. It depicts it the way it was in the 1800s and we surrounded it with a '50s motif, with old diners, old cars and houses. We even installed a train on the ceiling. It’s remarkable. The entire project was a huge undertaking, but people are adoring it,” she said.

The Koziars acknowledge that it’s an incredible amount of work, considering they have to dismantle everything every season and put it all back up again, but they wouldn’t have it any other way. “Making people happy, it’s a wonderful thing,” said Koziar.